White Pelicans use the age old hunting method of driving their prey in front of them. In a large group they push right through any schools of fish found. They also pull up all types of vegetation which can be seen below. I’m not sure how much of that is eaten.
When Pelicans fly over and see a group fishing they just drop right in the pack and join in.
I had a good spot for this flock and was able to shoot some good closeups.
Not what I expected at all. Personally I am not a fan of the sky in typical monochrome landscapes. I find it dark, no contrast, basically takes away from the overall photograph. Just my opinion.
I first started this because I was already working in DxO Silver Efex. Ultimately this came about. I liked it.
Sunset, and most landscapes still are best in color, but I should try monochromes more often.
Merritt Island, Florida.
For some reason this Pelican was going the exact opposite direction as all the others.
That’s unusual, White Pelicans are the ultimate team player.
If I look very close it’s a Tricolored Heron.
The color and cloud swirls are the important sections here though.
I’ve been working lately with the big white Great Egrets. I don’t want to ignore the other star of the Egret family though.
Reddish Egrets aren’t as common, and don’t have the elaborate mating displays. However when it comes to dancing or drama they are masters.
Above is a Reddish Egret stalking his favorite prey… a tiny minnow.
Another of those ‘found on a walk’ shots.
I didn’t see the catch. I don’t know how long the Egret was walking around with him. I was on a dike and walked over to see what he was doing.
Well, he was trying to figure out his next step.
You could see the bird was keeping this trophy. Egrets can eat some big fish so I thought sooner or later he would work it out. I wanted the shot when he did.
He just about had it too. But he was not happy.
In the ‘you can’t make this stuff up’ category he knew a Great Blue was about to mug him.
I did catch the Heron flying in, but I missed the Egret run away.
Off they went down the marsh and I have no ending to this story. The Heron could steal the fish, the Egret could swallow him while flying off, maybe he dropped it and there was no winner at all.
I did get a lot of shots with an Egret and his fish though.
Pelicans are such strange critters.
The photographs below were taken in a boat yard, a fishing pier, both of which gave a nice view of an old marina.
Pelicans are opportunists and find spots like this for the end of the day.
Oh, the last shot has a Double-crested Cormorant that crashed the party.
